Hazardous cargo ship being towed to safety

Crew rescued after container ship started taking on water in storm

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A French Navy helicopter flies over the MSC Napoli off Lizard Point on England's southwest tip on Thursday. A French coast guard tug was towing the British container ship containing explosive materials to safety Friday.

LONDON — A French coast guard tug was towing a listing ship containing pesticides to safety Friday.

The container ship's crew of 26 was rescued Thursday after it began taking on water during a storm in the English Channel.

The British-flagged MSC Napoli was on the French side of the Channel when it became holed on the starboard side, forcing the crew to abandon the ship and take to a lifeboat, the British coastguard said.

The crew were winched to safety by Royal Naval helicopters after a two-hour rescue operation and flown to Britain.

“It’s quite a situation out there, severe gale force 9 and a 9 meter swells,” a coastguard spokesman said earlier. “I think the Royal Navy winch guys and pilot are being tested to the limit.”